Fins-type heat sink and method for assembling the same

ABSTRACT

In a heat sink and a method for assembling the same, the heat sink includes a base, a heat pipe, fins, a presser and caps. The presser is provided with through-holes. The periphery of the through-hole is provided with an annular neck, so that the distal end of the heat pipe can penetrate the through-hole. The periphery of each annular neck is provided with notches on the presser. Each cap covers on the annular neck, and it extends downwards to form protruding flaps. The flap penetrates the notch and is folded outwards to abut the bottom surface of the presser. According to the assembling method, via the presser and the caps, the fins can be assembled with the heat pipe tightly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique of assembling a heat sink,and in particular to an assembling structure for reinforcing heat pipesand fins and a method for assembling the same.

2. Description of Prior Art

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional heat sink 1 a includes a base 10 a,at least one heat pipe 11 a that is bent to upright on the base 10 a,and a plurality of fins 12 a provided on the heat pipe 11 a. With thebase 10 a being brought into thermal contact with a heat source (notshown), the heat generated by the heat source can be transferred to theheat pipe 11 a via the thermal contact with the base 10 a. Then, theheat pipe 11 a conducts the heat to the respective fins 12 a, therebydissipating the heat. Via this arrangement, a heat-dissipating effectcan be achieved.

However, in the above-mentioned heat sink 1 a, one end of the heat pipe11 a is an inactive end 110 a because the diameter of the inactive end110 a is reduced when the heat pipe 11 a is subjected to a sealingprocess. As a result, when the fins 12 a are disposed on the heat pipe,this inactive end 110 a cannot fit with the fins 12 a tightly.Therefore, after the fins 12 a are disposed on the heat pipe 11 a pieceby piece orderly, the fins 12 a can be only fitted tightly with the heatpipe 1 a via the other end rather than the inactive end 110 a. Thus, thefins 12 a may fall off the heat pipe 11 a easily.

Therefore, in order to overcome the above problems, the present Inventorproposes a reasonable and novel structure based on his delicateresearches and expert experiments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a fins-type heat sink and a methodfor assembling the same. A presser and a plurality of caps are furtherdisposed over the respective fins of the heat sink. The presser providesa pressing force to prevent the fins from falling off the heat pipe.Further, via the caps, the presser can press the distal ends of the heatpipe, thereby preventing the separation of the presser from the heatpipe.

The present invention is to provide a fins-type heat sink, whichincludes a base, a heat pipe thermally connected on the base, aplurality of fins disposed on the heat pipe at intervals, a presser anda plurality of caps. Each of the fins is provided with penetratingholes. The outer periphery of the penetrating hole is formed with anannular wall. The presser is provided with through-holes for cooperatingwith the penetrating holes respectively. The periphery of thethrough-hole is provided with an annular neck for allowing the distalend of the heat pipe to penetrate. The outer periphery of each annularneck is provided with notches on the presser. Each of the caps coversthe annular neck, and it extends downwards to form protruding flaps. Theflap passes through the notch to be folded outwards so as to abut thebottom surface of the presser.

The present invention is to provide a method for assembling a fins-typeheat sink, which includes the steps of:

(a) A heat sink, a presser and a plurality of caps are provided. Theheat sink has a heat pipe and a plurality of fins disposed on the heatpipe. The presser is provided with through-holes allowing the distal endof the heat pipe to be inserted therein. The periphery of eachthrough-hole is provided with an annular neck. The presser is providedwith notches that are arranged circumferentially outside the annularneck.

(b) The caps are covered on the annular necks of the presser. The capseach extend downwards to form protruding flaps penetrating the notchesrespectively.

(c) A plate-like die is disposed on the topmost fin of the heat sink.

(d) The distal end of the heat pipe penetrates the through-hole of thepresser to abut inside the cap. At the same time, the flap is foldedoutwards by means of the plate-like die.

According to the present invention, the respective fins of the heat sinkcan be pressed by the presser, so that these fins cannot be detachedfrom the heat pipe easily. By means of the pressing force exerted by thepresser to the respective fins, the distal end of the heat pipe can abutinside the cap. Also, the annular neck of the presser is shrunk on theheat pipe due to the inward pressing of the cap, thereby reinforcing thestrength of connection between the fins and the heat pipe and avoidingthe separation of the presser from the heat pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view showing a conventional heat sink;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the heat sink of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view showing the heat sink of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the heat sink of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of the assembling method of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the presser and the cap of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the assembly of the presser and thecap of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the operating state before theassembly of the heat sink with the presser and the cap of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the operating state during theassembly of the heat sink with the presser and the cap of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the operating state after theassembly of the heat sink with the presser and the cap of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to make the Examiner to further understand the characteristicsand technical contents of the present invention, a detailed descriptionrelating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used tolimit the present invention.

The present invention provides a fins-type heat sink and a method forassembling the same. Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, which are anexploded view and an assembled view of the heat sink of the presentinvention respectively. The heat sink 1 includes a base 10, at least oneheat pipe 11, a plurality of fins 12, a presser 13 and a plurality ofcaps 14.

The base 10 is made of a heat-conducting material and is attached to aheat source (not shown) for dissipating the heat generated by the heatsource. The heat pipe 11 is thermally connected on the base 10. The fins12 penetrate the heat pipe 11 and are overlapped with each other. Eachof the fins 12 is made of a heat-conducting material, and it is providedwith penetrating holes 120 for allowing the heat pipe 11 to penetratetherein. The periphery of each penetrating hole 120 is formed with anannular wall 121, so that the fins 12 are separated from each other viathe respective annular walls 121.

Please refer to FIG. 4. In the present invention, the presser 13 and thecaps 14 are further provided over the fins 12, thereby preventing thefins 12 from falling off the heat pipe 11. The presser 13 is also madeof a heat-conducting material. The thickness of the presser 13 can belarger than that of the respective fins 12, thereby providing a betterstructural strength. The steps for assembling the heat sink will bedescribed as follows.

Please refer to FIG. 5. In the step S1, at first, a heat sink 1, apresser 13 and a plurality of caps 14 are provided. The heat sink 1 hasa structure of the above-mentioned characteristics. The presser 13 isprovided with through-holes 130 that correspond to the penetrating holes120 of each fin 12 respectively and allow the distal ends of the heatpipe 11 to be inserted therein. The periphery of each through-hole 130is provided with an annular neck 131. The presser 13 is provided withnotches 132 that are arranged circumferentially outside the annular neck131.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the step S2, the caps 14 are coveredon the annular neck 131 of the presser 13 respectively. The caps 14 eachextend downwards to form protruding flaps 140 penetrating the notches132 respectively (FIG. 7). When the flap 140 penetrates the notch 132,it is slightly folded into an inclined orientation.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 8. In the step S3, a plate-like die 2 isdisposed on the topmost fin 12 of the heat sink 1. The thickness of theplate-like die 2 is substantially identical to the pitch between therespective fins 12.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 9. In the step S4, finally, the distal endof the heat pipe 11 penetrates the through-hole 130 of the presser 13 toabut inside the corresponding cap 14. At the same time, by means of theplate-like die 2, the flap 140 is folded outwards at a right angle so asto abut the bottom surface of the presser 13 (FIG. 10).

According to the present invention, the respective fins 12 can bepressed by the presser 13, so that these fins 12 cannot be detached fromthe heat pipe 11 easily. By means of the pressing force exerted by thepresser 13 to the respective fins 12, the distal ends of the heat pipe11 can abut inside the caps 14. Also, the annular neck 131 of thepresser 13 is shrunk on the heat pipe 11 due to the inward pressing ofthe cap 14, thereby reinforcing the strength of connection between thefins 12 and the heat pipe 11 and avoiding the separation of the presser13 from the heat pipe 11.

Therefore, via the above arrangement, the fins-type heat sink and themethod for assembling the same according to the present invention can beobtained.

According to the above, the present invention achieves the expectedeffects and overcomes the drawbacks of prior art. Further, the presentinvention really demonstrates novelty and inventive steps and thusconforms to the requirements for an invention patent.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to theforegoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalentvariations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in thisart in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all suchvariations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A fins-type heat sink, comprising: a base (10); a heat pipe (11)thermally connected on the base (10); a plurality of fins (12) eachprovided with penetrating holes (120), an outer periphery of eachpenetrating hole (120) being formed with an annular wall (121), theplurality of fins (12) being overlapped on the heat pipe (11) atintervals; a presser (13) provided with through-holes (130) forcooperating with the penetrating holes (120) of each fin (12)respectively, a periphery of each through-hole (130) being provided withan annular neck (131) for allowing a distal end of the heat pipe (11) topenetrate, an outer periphery of each annular neck (131) being providedwith notches (132) on the presser (13); and a plurality of caps (14)covering the annular necks (131) of the presser (13), each cap (14)extending downwards to form protruding flaps (140), the flap (140)passing through the notches (132) to be folded outwards so as to abut abottom surface of the presser (13).
 2. The fins-type heat sin accordingto claim 1, wherein the distal end of the heat pipe (11) abuts insidethe corresponding cap (14).
 3. The fins-type heat sin according to claim1, wherein the presser (13) is made of a heat-conducting material. 4.The fins-type heat sin according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of thepresser (13) is larger than that of each fin (12)
 5. A method forassembling a fins-type heat sink, comprising the steps of: (a) providinga heat sink (1), a presser (13) and a plurality of caps (14), the heatsink (1) having a heat pipe (11) and a plurality of fins (12) disposedon the heat pipe (11), the presser (13) being provided withthrough-holes (130) allowing the distal ends of the heat pipe (11) to beinserted therein, a periphery of each through-hole (130) being providedwith an annular neck (131), the presser (13) being provided with notches(132) that are arranged circumferentially outside the annular neck(131); (b) covering the caps (14) on the annular necks (131) of thepresser (13) respectively, rach caps (14) extending downwards to formprotruding flaps (140) penetrating the notches (132); (c) disposing aplate-like die (2) on the topmost fin (12) of the heat sink (1); (d)inserting a distal end of the heat pipe (11) through the through-hole(130) of the presser (13) to abut inside the cap (14), while folding theflaps (140) outwards via the plate-like die (2).
 6. The method accordingto claim 5, wherein in the step (b), each of the flaps (140) is foldedoutwards after penetrating the notch (132).
 7. The method according toclaim 5, wherein in the step (c), a thickness of the plate-like die (2)is substantially identical to the pitch between the respective fins(12).